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Permafrost and groundwater on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in northeast China

Pergélisol et eau de nappe sur le Plateau Qinghai-Tibet et dans le Nord-Est de la Chine

Permafrost y agua subterránea en el Qinghai-Tibet Plateau y en el noreste de China

中国青藏高原和东北地区的多年冻土和地下水

Permafrost e águas subterrâneas no planalto de Qinghai-Tibete e no nordeste da China

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Abstract

The areal extent of permafrost in China has been reduced by about 18.6 % during the last 30 years. Due to the combined influences of climate warming and human activities, permafrost has been degrading extensively, with marked spatiotemporal variability. Distribution and thermal regimes of permafrost and seasonal freeze-thaw processes are closely related to groundwater dynamics. Permafrost degradation and changes in frost action have extensively affected cold-regions hydrogeology. Progress on some research programs on groundwater and permafrost in two regions of China are summarized. On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in mountainous northwest China, permafrost is particularly sensitive to climate change, and the permafrost hydrogeologic environment is vulnerable due to the arid climate, lower soil-moisture content, and sparse vegetative coverage, although anthropogenic activities have limited impact. In northeast China, permafrost is thermally more stable due to the moist climate and more organic soils, but the presence or preservation of permafrost is largely dependent on favorable surface coverage. Extensive and increasing human activities in some regions have considerably accelerated the degradation of permafrost, further complicating groundwater dynamics. In summary, permafrost degradation has markedly changed the cold-regions hydrogeology in China, and has led to a series of hydrological, ecological, and environmental problems of wide concern.

Résumé

le domaine d’extension du pergélisol en Chine s’est réduit d’environ 18.6 % durant les 30 dernières années. Dû aux influences combinées du réchauffement climatique et des activités humaines, le pergélisol s’est dégradé de façon extensive, avec une variabilité spatio-temporelle marquée. La distribution, les régimes climatiques du pergélisol et les processus saisonniers de gel-dégel sont étroitement reliés à la dynamique de l’eau souterraine. La dégradation du pergélisol et les changements dans l’action du gel ont affecté de façon extensive l’hydrogéologie des régions froides. Les progrès de programmes de recherche sur l’eau souterraine et le permafrost dans deux régions de Chine sont résumés. Sur le Plateau Qinghai-Tibet et le Nord-Ouest montagneux de la Chine, le pergélisol est particulièrement sensible au changement climatique, et l’environnement hydrogéologique du pergélisol est vulnérable, dû au climat aride, à la teneur plus basse du sol en humidité, et à la couverture végétale éparse, bien que les activités anthropiques aient un impact limité. Au Nord-Est de la Chine, le pergélisol est d’un point de vue thermique plus stable en raison d’un climat humide et de plus de sols organiques, mais la présence ou la préservation de permafrost est largement dépendante de la couverture de surface favorable. Des activités humaines extensives croissantes dans certaines régions ont considérablement accéléré la dégradation du permafrost, compliquant davantage la dynamique de l’eau souterraine. En somme, la dégradation du pergélisol a changé de façon marquée l’hydrogéologie des régions froides en Chine, et a conduit à une série de problèmes hydrologiques, écologiques et environnementaux ayant de larges incidences.

Resumen

La extensión areal del permafrost en China se redujo cerca del 18.6 % durante los últimos 30 años. Debido a las influencias combinadas de calentamiento del clima y actividades humanas, el permafrost ha sido degradado extensamente, con marcada variabilidad espacio temporal. La distribución y los regimenes termales del permafrost y procesos estacionales de congelamiento – descongelamiento están estrechamente relacionados a la dinámica del agua subterránea. La degradación del permafrost y los cambios en la acción de las heladas ha afectado extensamente a la hidrogeología de las regiones frías. Se resumen los progresos en algunos programas de investigación sobre aguas subterráneas y permafrost en dos regiones de China. En el Qinghai-Tibet Plateau y en las montañas del noroeste de China, el permafrost es particularmente sensible a los cambios climáticos, y ambiente hidrogeológico de permafrost es vulnerable debido al clima árido, baja humedad del suelo, y dispersa cubierta de la vegetación, aunque las actividades antropogénicas han limitado el impacto. En el noreste de China, el permafrost es termalmente más estable debido al clima húmedo y suelos más orgánicos, pero la presencia o preservación de permafrost es en gran parte dependiente de la favorable cubierta de superficie. Las extensas y crecientes actividades humanas en algunas regiones han acelerado considerablemente la degradación del permafrost, complicando aún más la dinámica del agua subterránea. En resumen, la degradación del permafrost ha cambiado marcadamente la hidrogeología de las regiones frías en China, y ha llevado a una serie de problemas hidrológicos, ecológicos y ambientales de gran preocupación.

摘要

过去30年来,中国的多年冻土面积已经减少了大约18.6 %。受气候变暖和人类活动的共同影响,多年冻土广泛退化,而且冻土退化呈现出显著的时空变性。多年冻土的分布和热状况以及季节冻结融化过程与地下水动态的关系密切。多年冻土退化和冻融作用变化已经对寒区的水文地质条件产生了深远的影响。本文综述了中国两个地区的与地下水和多年冻土相关的一些研究项目所取得的进展。在青藏高原上和西北山区,多年冻土对气候变化特别敏感,多年冻土区的水文地质环境脆弱。这是因为这里气候干旱、土壤水分少、植被稀疏,尽管人为活动的影响有限。在东北地区,气候较为湿润、有机土较多,多年冻土的发育和保存主要依赖于有利的地表覆被条件,因而多年冻土的热稳定性较强。广泛和日益增加的人类活动在一些地区已经显著加速了多年冻土退化,进一步使得地下水动态复杂化。总之,多年冻土退化已经显著改变了中国的寒区水文地质条件,并导致了一系列被广泛关注的水文、生态和环境问题。

Resumo

A extensão da área de permafrost na China foi reduzida em cerca de 18.6 % durante os últimos 30 anos. Devido às influências combinadas do aquecimento climático e das atividades humanas, o permafrost tem-se degradado extensivamente, com marcada variabilidade no espaço e no tempo. A distribuição e os regimes térmicos do permafrost e ainda os processos sazonais de congelamento e descongelamento estão intimamente relacionados com a dinâmica das águas subterrâneas. A degradação do permafrost e as mudanças na ação de congelamento afetaram extensivamente a hidrogeologia das regiões frias. São resumidos os progressos de alguns programas de pesquisa sobre as águas subterrâneas e o permafrost em duas regiões da China. No Planalto de Qinghai-Tibete e no noroeste montanhoso da China, o permafrost é particularmente sensível às mudanças climáticas e o meio ambiente hidrogeológico do permafrost é vulnerável devido ao clima árido, ao menor teor de humidade do solo e à cobertura vegetal esparsa, embora as atividades antrópicas tenham impacto limitado. No nordeste da China, o permafrost é termicamente mais estável devido ao clima húmido e aos solos mais orgânicos, mas a presença ou a preservação do permafrost é largamente dependente duma cobertura de superfície favorável. Em algumas regiões as atividades humanas extensivas e crescentes aceleraram consideravelmente a degradação do permafrost, complicando ainda mais a dinâmica das águas subterrâneas. Em resumo, a degradação do permafrost mudou acentuadamente a hidrogeologia das regiões frias na China e levou a uma série de problemas hidrológicos, ecológicos e ambientais de grande preocupação.

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Acknowledgements

The paper is supported by the Global Change Research Program of China “Cryospheric Change in Northern Hemisphere and Its Impacts and Adaptive Strategies” (Grant No. 2010CB951402). The authors appreciate the indispensable contributions of Professors Shaoling Wang, Dongxin Guo, Xin Li and Lanzhi Lü, and Dr. You’hua Ran and Dr. Dongliang Luo with the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in providing some of the field and laboratory data, and assistance in data analysis and for figure preparation. Professors Stuart A. Harris and Grant Ferguson and an anonymous reviewer have provided insightful advice for revisions. Ms. Anda Divine did a timely and meticulous editing job. Sue Duncan (Technical Editorial Advisor) provided meticulous and patient assistance in editing the manuscript both in language and technicality. The generous help of these people has significantly improved the manuscript quality and they are sincerely acknowledged.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soils Engineering, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China, 730000

    Guodong Cheng & Huijun Jin

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  1. Guodong Cheng
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  2. Huijun Jin
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Correspondence to Huijun Jin.

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Published in the theme issue “Hydrogeology of Cold Regions”

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Cheng, G., Jin, H. Permafrost and groundwater on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in northeast China. Hydrogeol J 21, 5–23 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0927-2

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